TAYBAH AL-MA'WALI AWAITS SENTENCING

UNCLAS MUSCAT 001203

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARPI AND DRL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL SOCI PINR MU
SUBJECT: TAYBAH AL-MA'WALI AWAITS SENTENCING

REF: MUSCAT 1132


1. (SBU) On July 30, a Muscat court released Taybah
al-Ma'wali on bail until a verdict on her appeal is announced
around August 3. According to family members, al-Ma'wali had
been in hiding since she was sentenced in absentia on July 13
to one and a half years in prison. On July 30, however,
al-Ma'wali surrendered to police officials in order to defend
herself before an appellate court.


2. (SBU) Although they expressed little hope that the
previous court's decision will be overruled, family members
are optimistic that the appellate judges will dismiss the
charge of violating the Telecommunications Act (reftel),
hopefully reducing al-Ma'wali's sentence.
BALTIMORE